Hope Larson–Compass South (2016) [Four Points, Book 1]

Few band names are as much fun as King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. With a name like that, the fact that they actually make good music is somehow amazing.

2018 was a quiet year for the band after they released five albums in 2017. But they are now back with a new single and an upcoming tour.

“Cyboogie” is basically exactly what it sounds like it might be–a cyborg boogie. It also features a classic trope of KGATLW songs–one word repeated over and over again (see: Rattlesnake).

This boogie is nearly 7 minutes long and features electronically processed vocals, prominent synth sounds and the occasional run up the musical scales at the end of each chorus.

It opens with the robotic voices chanting “boogie boogie boogie.” Over a pulsing bass and 70s sounding keys, this very retro song starts. There are lyrics in the verses, but they are so processed as to be almost inaudible (nice melody though). They lead to the chorus: cyboogie, cyboogie, boogie boogie boogie boogie, cyboogie. All with that undeniable beat.

The instrumental breaks are classic trippy 70s era instrumental breaks. Including the one at 3 minutes where the music stops briefly and a new beat and sound style emerges (more boogie). The third verse is so vocally processed I wasn’t even sure if there were words–but since the music has all boy dropped away it’s all you can hear. But fear not it is melodically sound and makes the next chorus even more interesting.

The song ends with some more robotic voice reciting something (no guesses as to what).

[READ: January 31, 2019] Compass South

This story was written by Hope Larson but illustrated by Rebecca Mock (which is only odd because Larson herself is an excellent illustrator).

It opens in New York City, 1848. A man named Dodge is seen going home when he is stopped by a large man in a cloak. The cloaked man tells him that his beloved Hester is dead in Ireland. But she wanted him to have…two babies: Alexander and Cleopatra.

He vows to be there for them, but in Chapter One, it is twelve years later and the children are on their own. As we zoom in on them, they are in the middle of robbing a house. They are with the Black Hook gang and Alex is getting tested. But Alex gets caught. Cleo goes to save him, but Luther, the local head of the gang stops her and says if they rat on the gang, they are dead.

Next, the twins are talking to the police. They have nothing to offer, so he gives them a deal–tell them about the Black Hook gang and they can go free. Of course, they take the deal. But before Luther can go after them, he is contacted by the henchman of Felix Worley, famed pirate and captain of El Caleuche. Seems he wants the twins, too.

The twins decide to head to San Francisco. A man put out a reward ad for his long-lost sons–red hair, around their age. This looks like a chance to score some cash and maybe even a home. Cleo cuts her hair and looks just like a boy. But on the way to the docks, they run into another pair of twins with red hair. They are planning on the same scam. Naturally they fight. And wind up in front of the police again.

One of each of the twins is thrown in jail and ultimately winds up on The Anita as ship servants. The other two are sent with a man who looks after orphans. Except this man is actually looking to hijack them as well. They are spared by the man’s slave (with a nice dig on slave owners).

In addition to the twins, their father was given precious objects that were not to be sold–a pocket knife and a pocket watch. They kids have held on to these items all their lives. But it turns out that even though they have no value, they have a secret. During the scuffle with the other twins, the watch is broken. But once they are aboard ship, the other twin–Edwin–is able to repair it. While fixing it, he finds the decoder within it. It must work with some kind of key in the knife.

We follow both sets of separated twins as they work together to overcome hardships–mostly aboard ships. Meanwhile, Luther has hooked up with Lucky Worley and he helps to tracks down Cleo and Silas (the other twin). After a scuffle, he gets the knife from Cleo. But it turns out he has feelings for her so instead of killing her, he lets her go, which upsets Lucky Worley to no end. Meanwhile the mate aboard the ship that Alex and Edwin are on takes a liking to Alex and looks after him–this comes back to save both of them later on.

Cleo and Silas escape through the jungle where they meet and rescue a young native woman named Sar. They work together to save each other from a jungle puma and then wind up back at Sar’s village. The natives speak English (humorously) and offer to help them get to San Francisco.

In the final chapter, Alex’s ship is set upon by Lucky Worley. Where some surprises arise (no Lucky Worley is not his father).

There is at least one more book in this series so I can say that the Dodge siblings reunite. Even though they have made friends with the Edwin and Silas, it is time for them to separate. I do hope we’ll see the more of them in book two,

This was a fun adventure. Tolerance for ship-going adventure must be high to read this, but it’s a good adventure with lots of twists and turns. And the art is quite excellent–usually easily distinguishing the twins more via their backgrounds ans settings than through differences between them.